Beware of the Tick Bite in Illinois that Really Can Be Fatal

I don't want to cross the sharing boundary, but I've been bitten by a lot of ticks during my life in Illinois. I did not realize that there is one tick bite that can cost you your life and, no, I'm not talking about Lyme Disease either.

There's a new alert from the Centers for Disease Control about a type of tick bite that can be more than just problematic and irritating. It can be fatal in some circumstances and Illinois is one of the places it's possible. It's the Powassan virus that is carried by ticks and it is an Illinois problem. The CDC says "most cases in the United States occur in the northeast and Great Lakes regions from late spring through mid-fall".

The Illinois Department of Public Health has more information on the ticks you need to watch out for that can transmit this Powassan virus. They say the black-legged ticks are "most common in northern Illinois and around river corridors". These are the critters that can carry Lyme disease and the far-worse Powassan virus.

How can a tick bite be fatal?

The CDC says that the rare, but increasing Powassan virus can cause swelling of the brain. That's when this tick bite can go from irritating to life-threatening.

How can you tell if you've been bitten by an infected tick?

The early symptoms include "fever, headache, vomiting, and weakness". If you know you've been bitten by a tick and have those symptoms, it's time to seek medical help.